The federal government has directed the newly registered Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) and the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA), to immediately resume classroom activities while ASUU members remain adamant.
The minister of labour and employment, Dr. Chris Ngige who made the call during the official presentation of the certificate of registration to the unions, also warned them against interfering in the government business in the running of universities.
The labor minister explained that the unions were registered after due consideration and to ensure that no one union had the power to cripple academic activities in Nigerian universities, adding that ASUU’s actions are not benevolent to progressive tertiary education.
Ngige further stated that the newly approved unions now have equal rights with ASUU and will be invited to all events and negotiations involving university lecturers.
On his part, the president of NAMDA, Dr. Nosa Lance Orhue, said the registration has given medical and dental academicians in the university and other tertiary institutions, where the training of medical students and postgraduate doctors takes place, a legal voice in the determination of the training requirements, management of the training system, and the welfare of her members.
Recall that the federal government had resorted to approving the registration of two factional academic unions that had indicated an interest in breaking away from ASUU due to alleged maltreatment.
